RIVERDALE, Ga. -- A 25-year-old man was shot to death in front of his family during a home invasion at the Brooks Crossing Apartments on Taylor Road Thursday night.

According to Riverdale Police Chief Samuel Patterson, armed men kicked in the back door of the David Rucker's apartment just before 10 p.m. and shot him in front of his wife and children. His family was not harmed.

Police said Rucker's wife told them she and her husband were in the master bedroom watching television when they heard someone banging at the back door. She said she could hear the blinds moving as if someone had entered the apartment.

Her husband told her to grab the kids, stay in the bedroom and to call police. She said she heard a confrontation with her husband stating his kids were present. She said that as one of the offenders tried to enter the childrens' bedrrom she said she saw a struggle between her husband and one of the offenders.

After hearing one gunshot, she said she saw her husband face down in the hallway. Police said the only description she could give of the offenders was of a black male wearing a ski mask and gloves, and dressed in all black clothing. She said she thought there were two offenders, but that she had only seen one.

Rucker was transported to Southern Regional Hospital where he was pronnounced dead.